How to Remove Painted Trim: Master-Level Tip

A tried and true method of removing painted trim.

Every kid needs a hero. Mine was my big brother, Paul, who has always been a whiz with mechanical stuff. He's a remodeling contractor now, and I still admire him -- these days, for the way he can deftly pop painted trim off a wall without damaging either surface. Here's the Paul method. First, he slices through the paint that bonds the trim to the wall. Next, he taps a stiff putty knife behind the trim. Then, he uses a pry bar levered against the knife. Once the trim has been gently pried forward, he removes the tools and butts the trim back against the wall with a rubber hammer handle. The putty-covered nailheads bust through like magic. He carefully pries the nails out and lifts the trim away.